By Lacy Baugher for Movies on October 10th, 2012

Watch: Sir Anthony Hopkins and Dame Helen Mirren in the Trailer for Hitchcock

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Who knew British director Sir Alfred Hitchcock would be such a big deal in 2012? BBC Two drama The Girl which chronicles the making of his classic film The Birds (and Hitchcock’s obsession with actress Tippi Hedren) is already set to premiere later this month on HBO, and now a feature film version of his struggle to get horror masterpiece Psycho filmed is due in theaters this November.

Hitchcock stars Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins as the famous director, alongside the equally formidable Dame Helen Mirren as Hitchcock’s wife Alma Reville. Avengers star Scarlett Johansson plays the infamous Janet Leigh, destined to be knifed to death in the shower of the Bates Motel (a.k.a that scene from Psycho everyone knows even if they’ve never seen Psycho). Click through to watch the trailer for Hitchcock, and tell us how you think Hopkins stacks up against The Girl’s Toby Jones.

Going by this trailer, Hitchcock does not have nearly the same creepy/disturbing vibe that The Girl offers – it actually got a laugh out of me more than once -and both Hopkins and Mirren seem incredibly awesome in their roles. In fact, I’m much more interested in just seeing them act with/around/near each other for two hours than I am in whatever this movie’s got to say about how Psycho came to exist. And, given the fact that The Girl focuses so heavily on Hitchcock’s rather intense relationship with Hedren, it’s almost nice to see that this film spotlights his relationship with his wife so strongly, particularly when she was such a driving force behind his films. (And also when she’s being played by Mirren, whom I love in any capacity.)

For comparison’s sake, here’s another look at Toby Jones as Hitchcock in The Girl:

Which of the two performances do you think is more accurate?

 

By Lacy Baugher for Movies on October 10th, 2012
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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  • Preview Upcoming Hitchock Drama The Girl from HBO and BBC Two

    Here’s an oddity – for once I get to post a preview of something British we’re going to get before the UK does. I kind of don’t know what to do! Premium cable channel HBO has been partnering with BBC Two on a variety of productions this year – including the period drama Parade’s End with Benedict Cumberbatch that’s currently airing across the pond – and has just released a trailer for The Girl, the upcoming one-off film about the making of Alfred Hitchock’s 1963 classic The Birds.

    The ninety minute drama and will tell the story of Hitchock’s tense relationship (some would call it obsession) with actress Tippi Hedren, the young unknown model he cast in the film. The two shared an intense working relationship, and Hedren later claiming that Hitchcock ruined her career after she refused his sexual advances. The Girl stars Toby Jones as Hitchcock and Sienna Miller as Hedren, with a strong supporting cast that includes Downton Abbey’s Penelope Wilton and Harry Potter’s Imelda Staunton.

    Honestly, the trailer is quite tense and a bit disturbing, albeit in a strangely fascinating way. This wasn’t really on my “to-watch” radar until I saw this clip, but now I think I’m going to have to put it on the calendar. (Plus, Jones is always fantastic, if you ask me.) Click through and give it a look for yourself.

    By Lacy Baugher for Drama on 9/14/2012